Well they probably could sign them both, but look what happened to Tampa with signing Richards, Lecavalier and St. Louis to massive contracts.

Briere currently makes $5 million and Drury $3.1 million. Both are due a raise and is could be argued that since Drury is making less now his raise should not be as significant as Briere's. For me it all depends on what they will be commanding on the open market. Briere will most likely see offers of $6 million and I would put Drury in the $4 - 4.5 million range.

Vanek is due for a raise as well and he is an important peice to the puzzle. The ultimate situation would be to convince all three to take a little less to stay with a winner, but we all know that will never happen.

Drury is the only other pick so he has to be second. But i think Briere because he is a great playmaker, can score and is great in the shootouts. Even though he is going to ask for more than Drury i think it's worth it.

Guest0965 ( )

Posted - 03/28/2007 : 18:01:30

i'd say that there evenly skilled but breire is a younger player and could stay there longer, if they don't sign him, they might never get him back. he's also that captain of the team. dury is good and all but i'd go with briere

i'd say that there evenly skilled but breire is a younger player and could stay there longer, if they don't sign him, they might never get him back. he's also that captain of the team. dury is good and all but i'd go with briere

Dont bring age into it.. Briere is only 1 year younger. :pand... Who's the captain? *boggle*

Yeah...after the playoffs I may have to rethink this. Drury is Captain Clutch. Although Briere scores goals any time during the game, Drury can score them when they're most needed. He's always in the right place at the right time. Frankly, that can be more valuable. Had he not scored that goal against NYR with 8 seconds left, the Rangers would've taken the series lead 3-2, and who knows what would've happened later. Whether you win or lose a game or a series can be determined by clutch players, so keep Drury. There are others to score during the rest of the game, like Vanek (who's been quite the superstar at that this post-season), Hecht (who's also been on fire lately), and Afinogenov (who forced game 5 into OT in the first place). Not to say Briere isn't valuable to the team, he certainly is, but clutch players can make you instead of having the other team break you. They take over in case the usual goal-scorers fall back. All in all though, I wish they could both stay with Buffalo.

Trade Afinogenov, I love him but to win you need Briere and Drury. Trade Afinogenov for some draft picks and prospects and a gritty power forward. Also trade Spacek and Kallinin, if Ruff doesn't want to play them what's the point of having them, trade them for a big puck moving power play quarter back. And not Souray a guy who is reliable in the defensive end as well. Also why would you have Kotalik and play him on the 4th line, trade him for another gritty forward.

We need a good puck moving d-man to play with Campbell and two gritty forwards. Out of the power and gritty forwards they can get Bertuzzi, Smyth and even sign Zubrus back. With Afinogenov and Kotalik out of the line up Stafford and Paille can get some more playing time.

I would like to see the lines as this

Offense:

Hecht-Briere-PomminvilleVanek-Connollly- StaffordRoy-Drury-(One of the power forwards)Mair-Gaustad-(And the other power forward)

Trade Afinogenov, I love him but to win you need Briere and Drury. Trade Afinogenov for some draft picks and prospects and a gritty power forward. Also trade Spacek and Kallinin, if Ruff doesn't want to play them what's the point of having them, trade them for a big puck moving power play quarter back. And not Souray a guy who is reliable in the defensive end as well. Also why would you have Kotalik and play him on the 4th line, trade him for another gritty forward.

We need a good puck moving d-man to play with Campbell and two gritty forwards. Out of the power and gritty forwards they can get Bertuzzi, Smyth and even sign Zubrus back. With Afinogenov and Kotalik out of the line up Stafford and Paille can get some more playing time.

You make a pretty compelling argument about this Paintrain. I agree with pretty much everything you wrote.

Trade Afinogenov, I love him but to win you need Briere and Drury. Trade Afinogenov for some draft picks and prospects and a gritty power forward. Also trade Spacek and Kallinin, if Ruff doesn't want to play them what's the point of having them, trade them for a big puck moving power play quarter back. And not Souray a guy who is reliable in the defensive end as well. Also why would you have Kotalik and play him on the 4th line, trade him for another gritty forward.

We need a good puck moving d-man to play with Campbell and two gritty forwards. Out of the power and gritty forwards they can get Bertuzzi, Smyth and even sign Zubrus back. With Afinogenov and Kotalik out of the line up Stafford and Paille can get some more playing time.

You make a pretty compelling argument about this Paintrain. I agree with pretty much everything you wrote.

Forecheck+Backcheck= Paycheck!!!

I want what's best for the team, and Afinogenov will be better on a new team he'll be known as there go to guy unlike in Buffalo where they have about 6 go to guys.